The '''English Civil War''' was a series of conflicts that lasted from 1642 to 1651 between supporters of King [[Charles I]], known as ''royalists'' or ''cavaliers'' and supporters of the English [[parliament]], known as ''parliamentarians'' or ''roundheads''. The King lost and was executed. The new ruler was [[Oliver Cromwell]]. It formed part of the "Wars of the Three Kingdoms."[[File:Civilwar-GBmap.jpg|thumb|290px|''The situation in the autumn of 1642'']]
==Background==